Family: Fagaceae, Beech view all from this family

Description Large tree with rounded crown of many long, spreading and horizontal branches, producing edible beechnuts.
Height: 60-80' (18-24 m).
Diameter: 1-2 1/2" (0.3-0.8 m).
Leaves: spreading in 2 rows; 2 1/2-5" (6-13 cm) long, 1-3" (2.5-7.5 cm) wide. Elliptical or ovate, long-pointed at tip; with many straight parallel slightly sunken side veins and coarsely saw-toothed edges; short-stalked. Dull dark blue-green above, light green beneath, becoming hairless or nearly so; turning yellow and brown in fall.
Bark: light gray; smooth, thin.
Twigs: slender, ending in long narrow scaly buds, with short side twigs or spurs.
Flowers: with new leaves in spring. Male flowers small, yellowish with many stamens, crowded in ball 3/4-1" (2-2.5 cm) in diameter, hanging on slender hairy stalk to 2" (5 cm). Female flowers about 1/4" (6 mm) long, bordered by narrow hairy reddish scales, 2 at end of short stalk.
Fruit: 1/2-3/4" (12-19 mm) long; short-stalked light brown prickly burs; maturing in autumn and splitting into 4 parts. Usually 2 nuts, about 5/8" (15 mm) long, 3-angled, shiny brown, known as beechnuts.

Habitat Moist rich soils of uplands and well-drained lowlands; often in pure stands.

Range S. Ontario, east to Cape Breton Island, south to N. Florida, west to E. Texas and north to N. Michigan; a variety in mountains of NE. Mexico; to 3000' (914 m) in north and to 6000' (1829 m) in southern Appalachians.

Discussion American Beech was recognized by the colonists, who already knew the famous, closely related European Beech. American Beech is a handsome shade tree and bears similar edible beechnuts, which are consumed in quantities by wildlife, especially squirrels, raccoons, bears, other mammals, and game birds. Unlike most trees, beeches retain smooth bark in age. The trunks are favorites for carving and preserve initials and dates indefinitely.